This article was originally published in the September 2012 issue of Alliance magazine. The original article can be found here. For more information about subscribing to Alliance, please visit www.alliancemagazine.org/subscribe.

GPLI invites all the cooks to the kitchen

By Sevdalina Rukanova

Too broad, too abstract, too ambitious, but most of all, too many cooks in the kitchen. These were some of the criticisms made of the Global Philanthropy Leadership Initiative (GPLI) when it began in 2009. Yet the various ingredients have mixed together successfully to produce two collaborative platforms, a framework for advancing the regulatory environment for cross-border philanthropy, and a roadmap to strengthen relations between foundations and multilateral organizations. With the GPLI’s pilot phase coming to a close, it’s time to make more room in the kitchen and invite interested foundations to join the work ahead.

Supporting transition processes in North Africa and the Middle East

The ﬁrst collaborative platform aims to support the peaceful transition to social and economic justice in North Africa and the Middle East. It will both facilitate the pooling of funds and enable information sharing and synergies among funders. A group of foundations is currently setting up a pilot joint initiative, focusing on north-west Tunisia. It will be operational in early autumn 2012 and will invest in strengthening local capacity and community assets; building bridges between diaspora and local groups around concrete projects of common interest; and fostering cooperation among civil society actors within Tunisia and beyond.